وَإِذْ أَخَذْنَا مِيثَـٰقَكُمْ وَرَفَعْنَا فَوْقَكُمُ ٱلطُّورَ خُذُوا۟ مَآ ءَاتَيْنَـٰكُم بِقُوَّةٍ وَٱذْكُرُوا۟ مَا فِيهِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ 63
Translations
And [recall] when We took your covenant, [O Children of Israel, to abide by the Torah] and We raised over you the mount, [saying], "Take what We have given you with determination and remember what is in it that perhaps you may become righteous."
Transliteration
Wa-idh akhdhana meethaaqakum wa-rafa'na fawqakumu at-toori khudhu ma atayna-kum bi-quwwatin wadhkuru ma feehi la'allakum tattaqoon
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah refers to Allah's covenant with the Israelites at Mount Tur (Sinai), where He raised the mountain above them and commanded them to take the Torah with strength and remember its commandments to attain taqwa (God-consciousness). Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari interpret the raising of the mountain as a metaphorical emphasis of the gravity of the covenant, while others note it may indicate a literal elevation of the mountain as a sign of divine power. The phrase 'bi-quwwatin' (with strength) emphasizes the need for firm commitment and active practice of divine guidance, not merely passive reception.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah Al-Baqarah's discussion of the Israelites' history and their covenant with Allah. It appears in a section (2:63-66) that recounts their breaking of covenants and subsequent punishment, serving as a reminder to the Muslim community about the importance of honoring divine covenants and the consequences of violating them.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'None of you believes until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself' (Sahih Bukhari 13). While not directly about this ayah, it relates to the concept of implementing divine guidance with full commitment. Another relevant hadith: 'The best of you are those who learn the Quran and teach it' (Sahih Bukhari 5027), emphasizing active engagement with divine revelation.
Themes
Key Lesson
Receiving divine guidance is not enough; believers must embrace it with genuine strength, conviction, and consistent practice to cultivate taqwa and avoid the fate of those who abandoned their covenants. This ayah challenges us to examine whether we are passively aware of Islamic teachings or actively implementing them in our daily lives with courage and dedication.
Related Ayahs
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ٱسْتَعِينُوا۟ بِٱلصَّبْرِ وَٱلصَّلَوٰةِ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ مَعَ ٱلصَّـٰبِرِينَ
O you who have believed, seek help through patience and prayer. Indeed, Allāh is with the patient.
لِلْفُقَرَآءِ ٱلَّذِينَ أُحْصِرُوا۟ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ لَا يَسْتَطِيعُونَ ضَرْبًا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ يَحْسَبُهُمُ ٱلْجَاهِلُ أَغْنِيَآءَ مِنَ ٱلتَّعَفُّفِ تَعْرِفُهُم بِسِيمَـٰهُمْ لَا يَسْـَٔلُونَ ٱلنَّاسَ إِلْحَافًا ۗ وَمَا تُنفِقُوا۟ مِنْ خَيْرٍ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ بِهِۦ عَلِيمٌ
[Charity is] for the poor who have been restricted for the cause of Allāh, unable to move about in the land. An ignorant [person] would think them self-sufficient because of their restraint, but you will know them by their [characteristic] sign. They do not ask people persistently [or at all]. And whatever you spend of good - indeed, Allāh is Knowing of it.
وَٱلَّذِينَ يُتَوَفَّوْنَ مِنكُمْ وَيَذَرُونَ أَزْوَٰجًا وَصِيَّةً لِّأَزْوَٰجِهِم مَّتَـٰعًا إِلَى ٱلْحَوْلِ غَيْرَ إِخْرَاجٍ ۚ فَإِنْ خَرَجْنَ فَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْكُمْ فِى مَا فَعَلْنَ فِىٓ أَنفُسِهِنَّ مِن مَّعْرُوفٍ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ
And those who are taken in death among you and leave wives behind - for their wives is a bequest: maintenance for one year without turning [them] out. But if they leave [of their own accord], then there is no blame upon you for what they do with themselves in an acceptable way. And Allāh is Exalted in Might and Wise.
بَدِيعُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۖ وَإِذَا قَضَىٰٓ أَمْرًا فَإِنَّمَا يَقُولُ لَهُۥ كُن فَيَكُونُ
Originator of the heavens and the earth. When He decrees a matter, He only says to it, "Be," and it is.